METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 316, 15 January 1908, Page 3

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Per Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. At the Primitive Methodist Confer-} ence to-day Mr M. G. Froggath (treas-i urer) presented the lialanee-sheet of the Xew Zealand Superannuated MinisJ t-ers', Widows', and Orphans' Fund. The income was £439 8s sd, the profits for the year ,C 274 12s, and the total valu« of the fund C 3021. He reported that a liei|uest of C2OO had been received during the year. A young peoples' rally was held at Dundas street Church. Rev. .T. Olphert presided. Rev. E. Drake (Wanganui) spoke on the moral heroism of Christianity. Mr A. Varney (director of techni-

cal education at Wanganui) spoke oi

the true spirit of Christian knighthood, Mr H. Holland, secretary of Sunday, School Union, spoke on the success of the cradle roll, and the Rov. ,T. Flanagan gave an account of the Sunday School work in America, and showed the work which children can do. The itinerary of the Rev. ,T. Flanagan was arranged in the following order:— Invercargill, Timaru, Dunedin, Ashburton, Wanganui, Stratford, Elthani, New. Plymouth, Thames, Wailii, Hamilton, Auckland and Christclmreh with farewell Sundays in Christchurch and Wellington. The evangelist will visit the places mentioned in the order named: Each circuit is to lie held responsible for its own share of the expenses of the mission, and a. halanee-sheet is to he submitted to the general treasurer im J mediately the mission is concluded. Each week's meetings are to eonlude on a Thursday, so as to leave Friday and Saturday free for rest and travelling. The conference delegates' expenses fund .showed a total of £27], the average per delegate heing £2 10s B<l. A special resolution of thanks and appreciation to the Rev. A. ,T. Smith and Rev. A. T. Gutterv, of England, for* their efforts in connection with the, English conference, was passed. Statistics for 1908: Churches, 75, increase 4; houses 40, increase 1; total cost of property £62,613 12s 3d; present value £73.209 lis 2d; insured for £32,105; premiums £144; debt £l7835 12s 3d; paid off this year 450; gross income £4058 Ms !)d; outgo £451!) 15s 4dj other preaching places 8fl; hearers. •10/2, ministers 30; circuit missionary, home missionaries 4; local preachers] 1/3; class leaders 58; church members 2882, increase 00; 'deaths 17. The report of the Jubilee Loan Fund was received, showing income £2OO 18s , ; expenditure £l9O 0s 7d, leaviri" a m7uliT U lld! eapital valllc <

• llla^or of Ji)i)iistorial salaries was introduced by the Otago and Southland districts. Jlr. G. Froggatc moved tlmt the salary be £45 per quarter exclusive of parsonages and children's fund. Mr. D. Goldie seconded pro forma. This was intended to apply to those who have been off probation over lour years; £4O per quarter was to be paid to ministers for the first four years after probation. -Mr. C. E. Bellringer (New l'lymouth) moved an amendment that wherever practicably stations should pay a minimum salary of £45 per quarter; and in others, ministers who had completed their probation, £4O per quarter, and probationers £2B and £3O per quarter respectively; aud that the whole question be referred to the quarterly meetings for consideration, with a view to some generally acceptable and practicable scheme being inaugurated for the better payment of our ministers; that the decisions of the quarterly meeting be sent to the district meetings to bj remitted to the next conference for final decision. The amendment was seconded by tlic Rev. E, Drake. The subject provoked much discussion, and the amendment was carried by ufi to 15.